How will Smokers Helpline assist women in the prenatal and postpartum periods?
Many women do not want to smoke while they are pregnant and do not want their children to be exposed to second-hand smoke. Aware of the serious health implications associated with smoking, pregnant women and new mothers often experience dissonance between their desire to quit and their inability to do so. Smoking is an addiction that is not easily stopped. Smokers’ Helpline is an effective aid in supporting Ontario women to quit smoking when they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Quit Specialists at Smokers’ Helpline use carefully developed protocols designed specifically for offering support to pregnant and postpartum clients. Counseling is offered from a woman-centered perspective. While the fetus is still acknowledged, this holistic approach helps the client to consider her health as well as that of her baby. The Specialists use motivational interviewing to assist clients in drawing on their strengths and past experiences to make their own quit plans. This also helps to gauge the clien
